Powerful partnerships offer hope in fighting HIV-AIDS in Namibia

WORLD AIDS Day, December 1, is an opportunity to remember the more than 25 million people who have died from AIDS and to support the nearly 33 million people who are currently living with HIV around the world.

It is also a time to recommit ourselves to compassionate action and the power of partnerships between Namibia and the United States – partnerships that are creating new hope. The 2007 US Government theme for World AIDS Day is ‘The Power of Partnerships’, highlighting the successes and future promise of partnerships in the fight against HIV-AIDS.Working together, the people of Namibia and the United States can and will achieve much more in the fight against HIV-AIDS.In 2007, the United States’ commitment to Namibia was US$91,2 million, rising from US$9,4 million in 2003 before the Emergency Plan began.The results achieved in Namibia, with support from Pepfar, have been striking.In 2007 alone, over 56 000 orphans and vulnerable children were served by OVC programmes and 39 700 Namibians received anti-retroviral therapy.In addition, over 33 000 pregnant women received prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) counselling and testing, and over 6 000 HIV+ mothers-to-be received ARV therapy to help prevent transmission of HIV to their babies.As President Bush has said, the people of nations such as Namibia are the leaders in this fight, and the role of the American people is to support them.The success of the Emergency Plan in Namibia is firmly rooted in partnerships.The American people are not donors but partners, working hand in hand with the people of Namibia – including governments, non-governmental organisations including faith- and community-based organisations, and the private sector – to build systems and to empower individuals and communities.And over the past three and one-half years, we have seen this partnership in action in Namibia.For example, a partnership between the World Food Programme (WFP), the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, and Catholic AIDS Action (CAA) resulted in more than 5,5 million metric tons of food valued at US$1,5 million being distributed to over 45 000 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) throughout Namibia.Pepfar funds allowed CAA to train and supervise a national network of 1 500 Namibian HIV community volunteers who identified food-aid recipients and food-distribution locations.And in another example, NawaLife Trust, supported in large part by Pepfar, gained funding and technical support from donors for the expansion of Namibian national HIV-AIDS campaigns, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Take Control HIV-AIDS Media Campaign and the Coalition for Responsible Drinking.Recognising that HIV-AIDS was a global health emergency requiring emergency action, in 2003, President Bush led the United States in restoring hope by establishing the five-year, US$15 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar).Building on success, on May 30, 2007, President Bush announced his intention to work with US Congress to renew the Emergency Plan.His five-year, $30 billion proposal would be in addition to the United States’ initial US$15 billion commitment made in 2003.The foundation of success has been true partnership.These partnerships are founded in the profound sense of dignity and worth of every human life, and in trust and mutual respect between the peoples of our nations.Working together to unleash the power of partnerships, the American people and the people of Namibia are committed to win this fight – together.* Dennise Mathieu is the US Ambassador to Namibia.The 2007 US Government theme for World AIDS Day is ‘The Power of Partnerships’, highlighting the successes and future promise of partnerships in the fight against HIV-AIDS.Working together, the people of Namibia and the United States can and will achieve much more in the fight against HIV-AIDS.In 2007, the United States’ commitment to Namibia was US$91,2 million, rising from US$9,4 million in 2003 before the Emergency Plan began.The results achieved in Namibia, with support from Pepfar, have been striking.In 2007 alone, over 56 000 orphans and vulnerable children were served by OVC programmes and 39 700 Namibians received anti-retroviral therapy.In addition, over 33 000 pregnant women received prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) counselling and testing, and over 6 000 HIV+ mothers-to-be received ARV therapy to help prevent transmission of HIV to their babies.As President Bush has said, the people of nations such as Namibia are the leaders in this fight, and the role of the American people is to support them.The success of the Emergency Plan in Namibia is firmly rooted in partnerships.The American people are not donors but partners, working hand in hand with the people of Namibia – including governments, non-governmental organisations including faith- and community-based organisations, and the private sector – to build systems and to empower individuals and communities.And over the past three and one-half years, we have seen this partnership in action in Namibia.For example, a partnership between the World Food Programme (WFP), the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, and Catholic AIDS Action (CAA) resulted in more than 5,5 million metric tons of food valued at US$1,5 million being distributed to over 45 000 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) throughout Namibia.Pepfar funds allowed CAA to train and supervise a national network of 1 500 Namibian HIV community volunteers who identified food-aid recipients and food-distribution locations.And in another example, NawaLife Trust, supported in large part by Pepfar, gained funding and technical support from donors for the expansion of Namibian national HIV-AIDS campaigns, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Take Control HIV-AIDS Media Campaign and the Coalition for Responsible Drinking.Recognising that HIV-AIDS was a global health emergency requiring emergency action, in 2003, President Bush led the United States in restoring hope by establishing the five-year, US$15 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar).Building on success, on May 30, 2007, President Bush announced his intention to work with US Congress to renew the Emergency Plan.His five-year, $30 billion proposal would be in addition to the United States’ initial US$15 billion commitment made in 2003.The foundation of success has been true partnership.These partnerships are founded in the profound sense of dignity and worth of every human life, and in trust and mutual respect between the peoples of our nations.Working together to unleash the power of partnerships, the American people and the people of Namibia are committed to win this fight – together.* Dennise Mathieu is the US Ambassador to Namibia.